Telecommunications

International roaming charges rip-off: the ITU gets involved ...

By Mark A Gregory, RMIT University

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has entered the debate about excessive international roaming charges by recommending measures that will improve consumer awareness and encourage operators to lower tariffs.

On September 14 in Geneva, ITU Secretary General Hamadoun I Touré said:

Hold off on 4G for now

Business Spectator 27 September 2012

By now everyone has read about the benefits of 4G-enabled smartphones including the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3 4G.

The key change from 3G is the increased data connection speeds possible with 4G. Early adopters may achieve connection download speeds of more than 30 Mbps and upload speeds of more than 20 Mbps.

MOOC and you're out of a job: uni business models in danger

By Mark A Gregory, RMIT University

FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION: The rise of online and blended learning and the development of free online courses is set to transform the higher education sector. We’ve asked our authors how to remake the university sector so it can best respond to this revolution.

Telstra's post-NBN future

Business Spectator 18 October 2012

Australia’s telecoms landscape is undergoing a significant change as the fibre revolution swings into action but what will Australia's premier ICT provider Telstra look like in 2020?

Teleworking's hidden risks

Business Spectator 2 November 2012

For many, the word ‘teleworking’ brings to mind a picture of a person sitting on a beach with a notebook. The reality is a little less encouraging.

Teleworking or telecommuting as it is also known has not become a feature of everyday life and less than 10 per cent of Australians have a telework agreement with their employer.

Is remote and rural Australia being dudded by the NBN?

By Mark A Gregory, RMIT University

The National Broadband Network (NBN) is an important nation-building project that’s being implemented at a time of fundamental change in the way we utilise services over the digital network.

For most Australians – those of us in big cities – the NBN will be a big improvement over the existing access network, thanks to fibre connections.

Telstra's revised cyber-safety service could (and should) be better

Telecommunications By Mark A Gregory, RMIT University

Telstra’s first attempt to introduce a cyber-safety service for mobile customers in June was a flop of significant proportions.

The future of smartphone marketing

Business Spectator 9 November 2012

The introduction of smartphones has been a catalyst for the innovative use of technology to bring business and customers closer together. With Australian start-ups competing on the international stage to make the most of the smartphone revolution, they certainly have what it takes to give their well-funded overseas rivals a run for their money.  

The rise of location-based advertising

Ready for a NBN emergency?

Business Spectator 7 December 2012

Telstra is expected to fully restore its services in south-west Victoria by the end of this week with the telco’s boss David Thodey promising a thorough investigation into the fire that took out the Warrnambool exchange in late November.

Qantas drops in-flight Wi-Fi – the NBN to the rescue?

By Mark A Gregory, RMIT University

The trial of in-flight Wi-Fi on six Qantas Airbus A380s flying between Melbourne, Los Angeles and London has ended, following an announcement by the carrier last week.